The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) is preparing to host the National Unity and Social Cohesion Conference 2026 on October 26–27 at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening national unity, promoting dialogue and preventing conflict.

Speaking at a Press Conference at the Ministry of Defence on Friday, October 16, ICPNC Executive Secretary Hawa Samai said the conference would bring together national stakeholders to identify practical steps towards sustaining peace and strengthening social cohesion.

“Our purpose is not simply to hold another conference or produce another document. Our purpose is to create space for honest reflection, respectful dialogue, practical decisions and renewed collective responsibility for the peace and future of Sierra Leone,” Hawa Samai said.

The conference, held under the theme “From Commitment to Action,” will bring together Government institutions, political stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, women, young people, civil society organisations, the media, persons with disabilities, the judiciary and development partners, including the African Union, ECOWAS, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Hawa Samai said a key focus would be the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity, signed on October 18, 2023, following dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and the All People’s Congress (APC), facilitated by the ICPNC.

She said the conference would provide a platform to discuss progress on the agreement, particularly the implementation of Resolution 6, and identify practical measures to strengthen conflict prevention.

“The value of any agreement is ultimately measured by its implementation and by the difference it makes to relationships, public confidence and the lives of citizens,” Hawa Samai said.

She added that participants would propose priority actions, identify possible lead institutions and establish indicative timelines to support follow-up after the conference. The gathering is also expected to produce a Freetown Declaration to guide continued engagement.

Hawa Samai said Sierra Leone’s experience of civil war underscored the need to sustain peace through dialogue, justice, inclusion and accountability. She cited the Lomé Peace Agreement of 1999, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone as important parts of the country’s peacebuilding efforts.

She warned that conflict could emerge from unresolved grievances, exclusion, inflammatory language and the spread of rumours, stressing the importance of addressing tensions before they escalate into violence.

“Peace must be nurtured, defended through dialogue, strengthened through justice and inclusion, and sustained through the choices we make every day,” she said.

The ICPNC Executive Secretary also emphasized the need for inclusive participation in peacebuilding, noting that women, young people and persons with disabilities should have meaningful opportunities to contribute to decisions affecting the country’s future.

She noted that the success of the conference would depend not on the number of participants or speeches delivered but on the practical steps taken afterwards.

Deputy Director of Communications at the ICPNC, Hawa Barrie, said the conference will present an opportunity for Sierra Leoneans to engage in a national conversation about building trust, strengthening relationships and addressing differences peacefully.

Hawa Barrie said the media would play an important role in ensuring that discussions and outcomes from the conference reach citizens across the country.

“Sierra Leoneans across the country deserve to know what is being discussed, why it matters and what outcomes they should expect,” she said.

She added that the conference would seek to move discussions beyond commitments and identify practical steps towards a more united Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65496